Buffalo Bills News - May 14, 2002

Bills In Good Cap Shape [8:34 PM]BillsDaily reports:
A closer look shows the Bills need minimal money to sign picks. The Bills need only to free up a maximum worst case of $420,000 to sign all of their draft picks right now, even assuming that Tom Donahoe uses every dollar of the rookie allocation of $5.139 Million. This amount of cap space hardly necessitates the release of any players being talked about like John Fina, let alone Jay Riemersma.

Twenty-five days... [5:09 PM]BuffaloBills.com reports:
After playing the 1960 and ’61 seasons in their original silver/gray and blue uniforms, the Bills made a switch prior to the 1962 regular season.

Bills' Alexander had food poisoning [5:08 AM]D and C reports:
'Frankfurt Galaxy running back Curtis Alexander (Buffalo Bills), who left Saturday's game against the Rhein Fire after two plays, was suffering from food poisoning.'

May 13, 2002

Curtis Alexander Leaves Game With Food Poisoning [4:51 PM]BuffaloBills.com reports:
NFL Europe Recap - RB CURTIS ALEXANDER, Frankfurt Galaxy
Started and rushed for nine yards on two carries against Rhein before leaving the game due to food poisoning.

Twenty-Six Days Until Uniform Unveiling [4:08 PM]BuffaloBills.com reports:
As announced yesterday, fans can get their first look at the team’s new uniforms in a special unveiling event on Saturday, June 8 at Ralph Wilson Stadium. In anticipation of that, look for more details on the event to be announced in the coming weeks as well as different historical facts about the Bills uniforms over the years.

5th Down: The Fan Who Wanted A Team [3:11 PM]BuffaloBills.com reports:
Ralph Wilson was more than a simple fan. He was a dreamer, though his fantasy wasn't to play or coach or scout. He wanted to buy his very own football team. "I wanted to do it as a fan," Wilson says. "I wanted to be involved in the game."

TBD Opener tickets purchased [12:19 PM]TBD reports:
The tickets have been purchased for the TBD 3rd annual tailgate party and game on September 8 vs the Jets. We'll be in Section 330, starting in row 15. If you promised you would send in a check for your ticket, please do so as soon as possible. If you forgot to sign up, post a note and maybe someone has purchased an extra or two.

May 12, 2002

Andre Reed interviewed on ESPN Radio [4:58 PM]TheStadiumWall reports:
A wall poster reports on the ESPN Radio interview with Andre Reed. Now that he is away from the game, Andre sems to appreciate the Bills organization a little more than he did in his final days there.

Bledsoe: Comeback Kid? [9:15 AM]Buffalo News reports:
'Drew Bledsoe has not lost his flair for the dramatic. On the golf course, at least.'

Bills' new look arrives June 8 [6:54 AM]D and C reports:
'The team will hold a public unveiling of its new uniform design at 1:30 p.m. on Saturday, June 8 at Ralph Wilson Stadium. Players will model the uniforms and sign autographs and a yet-to-be-announced national recording act will perform. Admission is free but fans will need a ticket.'

Bills To Unveil Uniforms On June 8 [2:49 AM]BuffaloBills.com reports:
The Bills announced that fans will have their first opportunity to see the team's new uniforms on Saturday, June 8 in a special unveiling event at Ralph Wilson Stadium.

May 11, 2002

Unbeaten Galaxy loses Alexander and game [11:46 PM]NFLEurope reports:
Something had to give and there was a blow for the Galaxy on their second play when Buffalo Bills-allocated running back Curtis Alexander, the league's leading rusher, was shaken up on the second play and did not return.

This occured not long after Alexander said they key for him in NFL Europe was to not get hurt.

Saimes at home with Texans post [8:26 AM]Canton Repository reports:
'He had squeezed 10 years and 22 interceptions out of pro secondaries in Buffalo and Denver. George Saimes’ next move was pretty obvious. An old Canton friend who wound up as head coach of the Bills volunteered a key clue. “If it’s coaching,” Hank Bullough advised, “be prepared to move.”'

Cats lure former Bills' pivot to camp [7:10 AM]Hamilton Spectator reports:
'Buffalo's loss may be Hamilton's gain when Bills' castoff quarterback Pete Gonzalez makes his way over the border to the Tiger-Cats' training camp in St. Catharines next month. The Tiger-Cats announced yesterday that Gonzalez, who has seen limited play with three National Football League teams since 1998, will become the fourth quarterback in camp this season.'

Riemersma's future still debatable [5:41 AM]D and C reports:
'"I think some of the things with Jay unfortunately got blown out of proportion, " Donahoe said. "I've seen his name in various places as a cap casualty but that's not coming from us. We expect him to be here and we expect him to be an important part of our team." The key word is "expect."'

May 10, 2002

Dr Z's grade of 1997 draft - 5 years late [11:34 PM]CNN/SI reports:
DE Marcellus Wiley in the second round was their best pick and he left via free agency. No one else remains, including their No. 1, RB Antowain Smith, who never quite cut it with the Bills, and a couple of linemen who were occasional starters but not very effective, Jamie Nails and Marcus Spriggs. Grade ... D

Jim Haslett likely to recommend Tom Modrak for the general manager of Saints [11:12 PM]ESPN reports:
To ensure that he has a shot at lasting beyond this season, look for Haslett to suggest Benson consider Buffalo director of football operations Tom Modrak for the GM post. Modrak is a friend of Haslett, and when he was in Philadelphia, recommended the Eagles hire him in 1999, before club officials decided on Andy Reid as the guy. Modrak is a terrific football man and he would bring instant respect to the seemingly directionless Saints.

Bills Backers Focus-Florida Style [4:32 PM]BuffaloBills.com reports:
The Space Coast Bills Backers recently held their 5th Annual Spring Fling Picnic in Kiwanis Park on Merritt Island, Florida. The picnic is held for club members every year, just before the "snow bird" friends return to the Buffalo area for the summer.

Sponsor to see Bills through camp [9:04 AM]Buffalo News reports:
'Bausch & Lomb, which markets products in 100 countries, already had a three-year business partnership with the Bills. But being the sponsor of training camp gives the company a chance to enhance its visibility, said Mark M. Sieczkarek, Bausch & Lomb's senior vice president and president of The Americas Region.'

Bills and B&L see eye-to-eye [5:06 AM]D and C reports:
'Bausch & Lomb replaces Wegmans Food Markets, Inc., which dissolved its marketing partnership with the Bills earlier this year after its request to scale back and sponsor training camp only was rebuffed by the team. Tops Friendly Markets has since become the club's official supermarket but its contract didn't include naming rights to the camp like Wegmans had. That opened the door for Bausch & Lomb.'

B&L to sponsor Bills training camp [5:05 AM]Rochester Business Journal reports:
'“It’s an excellent way to bring the message of the importance of eye health to the many young people at the camp and the fans who follow the Bills,” he said.'

Bills announce new training camp sponsor [5:04 AM]WHEC-TV reports:
'The third training camp at St. John Fisher begins July 24th when rookies are scheduled to report. The rest of the team will arrive on Friday July 26th. The Bills also be holding a scrimmage with the Cleveland Browns at Fisher August 3rd.'

Bausch and Lomb and Buffalo Bills Team Up for Training Camp [5:03 AM]WROC-TV reports:
'Under the deal, the camp at St. John Fisher will be known as the Buffalo Bills Bausch and Lomb training camp. And they're adding a unique feature this year. B&L will provide vision screening to kids who attend.'

B&L And Bills Make It Official [5:02 AM]WOKR-TV reports:
'Mark Sieczkarek, Bausch & Lomb Senior V.P., said, "[The partnership] reflects a commitment to our community. We haven't been as active in the community given the issues that we've been facing, and we want to get back out there and be seen and heard certainly by our employees and by the community itself."'

Introducing the Buffalo Bills Bausch & Lomb Summer Training Camp [5:01 AM]Bausch & Lomb reports:
'Buffalo Bills President and General Manager Tom Donahoe said, “Bausch & Lomb is a name brand that is respected around the world. We are privileged to have the opportunity to work together as partners in training camp. In addition to the wonderful things we are planning on the marketing front, the opportunities we have to work within the community are equally exciting."'